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News and Awards
The Marshall Project Wins a Collier Award for Exposing Abusive Conditions in Louisiana Youth Detention Facility
Life Inside
I Raised My Kids From Prison. Soon, I’m Coming Home to a Grandson.
Podcast
‘Just Say You’re Sorry’: Podcast Dissects Famed Texas Ranger’s Controversial Tactics
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Violation
April 26
The Parole Violation That Sent Jacob Wideman Back to Prison
Part Six of the “Violation” podcast explores: Was Jake a master manipulator, the victim of a misunderstanding — or something worse?
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
News and Awards
April 24
The Marshall Project Announces the Addition of Two New Editors
Paul D’Ambrosio will join as a senior editor, and Jovelle Tamayo will join as a multimedia editor to enhance visual storytelling.
By
The Marshall Project
The Record
The
most popular topics
in criminal justice today
Gun Violence
Guns
Police Accountability
Death Penalty
Stand Your Ground
Children
Florida
Ralph Yarl
Closing Argument
April 22
How the Death Penalty Is Returning to Presidential Politics
Trump and DeSantis want to make it easier to execute people, and Biden could face a rush of clemency requests from federal death row.
By
Maurice Chammah
Violation
April 19
‘Mass Supervision’: Out of Prison, But Not the System
Part Five of the “Violation” podcast follows Jacob Wideman on home arrest and examines conditions faced by millions on parole or probation in the U.S.
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
Closing Argument
April 15
How the Juvenile System Forces Minors Into Unsafe Institutions
Even in states with a drive for reform, many children and teens face long confinement and dirty, dangerous conditions.
By
Jamiles Lartey
News
April 14
Some Are Jailed in Mississippi for Months Without a Lawyer. A Court Just Barred That.
The Mississippi Supreme Court moved to end the “dead zone” before indictment in a notoriously dysfunctional public defender system.
By
Caleb Bedillion
and
Taylor Vance
Opening Statement
Links from
this mornings’s email
His Conviction Was Overturned. NYC Said He Didn’t Deserve a Dime. — ProPublica
Why has this Georgia man been behind bars for 10 years awaiting trial?
Ending Qualified Immunity Act Is Reintroduced in Congress
NYC Council’s Progressive Caucus supports discovery and speedy trial reforms – Brooklyn Eagle
Stricter juvenile justice proposals among raft of criminal policy changes to advance
7 officers charged in detainee death in Atlantic County, N.J.
Nearly 1 in 4 LAPD pursuits ends in injuries, and the numbers have been rising – Daily News
Democrats Should Run on Progressive Approaches to Public Safety. Here’s Proof.
Life in Prison for a Killing He Didn’t Cause or Condone
Anilao v. Spota: The Supreme Court Is Allergic to Holding Abusive Prosecutors Accountable
Rikers’ future must be better: As internal investigations deteriorate, the city jail needs an external receiver – New York Daily News
Watch live: Transgender Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr faces censure or expulsion by GOP
Oakland detective charged with lying under oath in murder case
New AP/ABC film probes white supremacy in law enforcement
New bill would tackle NYPD's own illegal parking
Violation
April 12
‘Heart Tests’: Finding Life (and Love) Behind Bars
Part Four of the “Violation” podcast follows Jacob Wideman as he confronts his mental health, navigates romance, and faces a skeptical parole board.
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
News and Awards
April 10
Dave Mann Joins The Marshall Project as Senior Editor
Mann will expand the nonprofit newsroom’s ability to produce its signature investigative storytelling on courts, cops and prisons.
By
The Marshall Project
Closing Argument
April 8
What Happens When Your Social Media Photos End Up in the Hands of Police
Law enforcement agencies, from police departments to ICE, are using facial recognition, sometimes leading to wrongful arrests.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Life Inside
April 7
What I Learned From a Year of ‘Life Inside’
Publishing personal essays about the criminal justice system can be as complex as the system itself, writes engagement journalist Carla Canning.
By
Carla Canning
Violation
April 5
‘A Trap for the Unwary’: The Power and Paradox of Parole Boards
Part Three of the “Violation” podcast examines America’s opaque parole system and how Jacob Wideman prepared to argue for his release.
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
Analysis
April 4
Most New Yorkers Don’t Get the Trump Treatment at Arraignment
The 31,000 people arraigned for felonies in New York each year have very different experiences in court than the former president.
By
The Marshall Project
Closing Argument
April 1
How Criminal Records Hold Back Millions of People
More than 70 million Americans with arrest records face barriers to find work or a decent place to live.
By
Jamiles Lartey
News and Awards
March 29
The Marshall Project Wins Prestigious National Magazine Award From American Society of Magazine Editors
Award-winning newsroom won two categories at the 58th annual National Magazine Awards.
By
The Marshall Project
Violation
March 29
‘Bad Seed’: Two Generations, Two Terrible Crimes
Part Two of the “Violation” podcast explores whether violence runs in families and what should happen to kids who commit murder.
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
News Inside
March 28
Y’all Want It, We Got It
Issue 13 of News Inside fills reader requests and gives them something new to think about.
By
Lawrence Bartley
Closing Argument
March 25
New FBI Data Shows More Hate Crimes. These Groups Saw The Sharpest Rise.
Bias-related crimes rose in 2021 to nearly 11,000 incidents.
By
Weihua Li
and
Jamiles Lartey
Analysis
March 24
What Irvo Otieno’s Killing Tells Us about Mental Healthcare in the U.S.
The system can end up prosecuting patients and relying on police — with sometimes fatal results.
By
Christie Thompson
Feature
March 24
How Chicago Got Its Gun Laws
It’s nearly impossible to separate modern-day gun laws from race.
By
Lakeidra Chavis
Testify
March 23
What Are the ‘Exit Ramps’ From Incarceration in Cuyahoga County?
Help us report on how well the courts provide people charged with low-level felonies a second chance.
By
Alexandra Arriaga
Inside Story
March 23
Violence on the Inside, Mentorship From the Outside
We investigate violence at one of the newest federal prisons and talk with La La Anthony about preparing incarcerated youth for life on the outside.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Feature
March 23
5 Things to Know About the Failed War on Gun Violence
Gun possession arrests are a major policing tactic in the fight against gun violence. Here’s how that plays out.
By
Lakeidra Chavis
and
Geoff Hing
Feature
March 23
The War on Gun Violence Has Failed. And Black Men Are Paying the Price.
In Chicago and elsewhere, gun possession arrests are rising as shootings go unsolved.
By
Lakeidra Chavis
and
Geoff Hing
Violation
March 22
A Summer Camp Murder. Two Sons, Lost.
The premiere of “Violation,” a podcast from The Marshall Project and WBUR, examines the decades-long ripple effects of an inexplicable crime.
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
News and Awards
March 22
WBUR and The Marshall Project Release New Podcast “Violation” on the Case of Jacob Wideman
A new podcast from WBUR, Boston’s NPR, and The Marshall Project explores America’s opaque parole system through a 1986 murder.
By
The Marshall Project
News
March 21
‘Prison Within a Prison’: New Mandate Offers Lifeline for Deaf People in Custody
The new rule, which goes in effect in January 2024, applies to phone companies serving prisons, jails and detention facilities nationwide.
By
Christie Thompson
Cleveland
March 20
Have Clevelanders Lost Interest in Police Reforms?
Residents say city officials have not kept them in the loop on federal oversight progress.
By
Mark Puente
AND
Sarah Buduson
Closing Argument
March 18
New Scrutiny on Murder Charges Against People Who Don’t Actually Kill
The U.S. is the only country that still uses the “felony murder” legal doctrine.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Analysis
March 16
5 Things We Learned About Prison Book Ban Policies
We added policies to our searchable database of banned books. Here’s what we’ve found (so far).
The Marshall Project
Inside Story
March 16
The Rise of Life-Without-Parole Sentences
We explore sentences that imprison people for life without parole, and comedian Ali Siddiq unpacks his behind-bars beginning in comedy.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Analysis
March 16
Elizabeth Holmes Has Two Young Children. Should That Keep Her Out of Prison?
Sending new moms to prison has devastating consequences. Some states are starting to rethink the practice.
By
Nicole Lewis
Feature
March 14
Aggressive Policing in Memphis Goes Far Beyond the Scorpion Unit
Data shows Memphis police arrested more people – mostly Black men – than other Tennessee cities.
By
Daphne Duret
,
Weihua Li
and
Marc Perrusquia
Closing Argument
March 11
How a Growing Political Fight Threatens Local Control of Criminal Justice
Anxiety about crime — and plain politics — are fueling efforts to supplant local rule, from Washington, D.C., to St. Louis and other localities.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Inside Story
March 9
Glimpses of Prison Life, Through TikTok and TV
We see how glimpses of life behind bars go viral online, and talk with Piper Kerman about creating “Orange is the New Black.”
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Podcast
March 8
Introducing ‘Violation,’ a Podcast From The Marshall Project and WBUR
Violence. Power. Privilege. The series explores these themes through one case — and pulls back the curtain on the secretive world of parole boards.
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
Closing Argument
March 4
Crime Dominates Voters’ Minds and Politicians’ Tongues
Chicago’s mayoral runoff and other spring elections in cities such as Denver and Akron, Ohio, will hinge largely on crime and public safety issues.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Inside Story
March 2
Drug Addiction and the Paths to Prison
We learn how prosecutors can turn one of the darkest days in a mother’s life into a prison term, and hear Tarra Simmons’ journey from behind bars to writing laws.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Feature
March 2
The Mercy Workers
For three decades, a little-known group of “mitigation specialists” has helped save death-penalty defendants by documenting their childhood traumas. A rare look inside one case.
By
Maurice Chammah
Analysis
February 27
What the Panic Over Shoplifting Reveals About American Crime Policy
Lawmakers consider bills to crack down on people ripping off retailers, even as some stores walk back claims about a growing theft problem.
By
Nicole Lewis
Closing Argument
February 25
Fighting the High Cost of Prison Phone Calls
Tired of exorbitant phone bills, prisoners and their families are pushing to lower costs.
By
Christie Thompson
Life Inside
February 24
I Was Sentenced to Die in Prison. But After 27 Years, I’m Finally Free
When I went to jail in 1995, I had never used the internet. As I play catchup, the simplest things are everything.
By
Bobby Bostic
Graphics
February 23
The Books Banned in Your State’s Prisons
We asked all state systems for book policies and ban lists, then created a database for you.
error in byline
Inside Story
February 23
Police Shootings in Rural America
We investigate police shootings in rural areas and speak with music executive Jason Flom about his work with people who were wrongfully convicted.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Cleveland
February 20
Cleveland Police Removed Officer Names from Discipline Notices
Officials say the move prevents officer shaming. But does it raise transparency issues?
By
Rachel Dissell
and
Mark Puente
Closing Argument
February 18
How ‘Cruel and Not Unusual’ Conditions Persist in Many Lockups
Insight from a discussion with journalists, formerly incarcerated people and experts.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Inside Story
February 16
Changing Perceptions of Prisons and Policing
We explore prison tourism and the balance between glorification and education, and meet two detectives trying to change the image of policing.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
News
February 14
After Several Deaths, Feds to Close Violent Prison Unit in Illinois
In 2022, The Marshall Project and NPR revealed deadly, dangerous and cramped conditions.
By
Christie Thompson
, The Marshall Project and
Joseph Shapiro
, NPR
Cleveland
February 13
Calls Grow Louder to Restore Cuyahoga County Sheriff to an Elected Post
Some blame turnover of appointed sheriffs on added layers of bureaucracy.
By
Mark Puente
Closing Argument
February 11
How Police Traffic Stops May Change After Tyre Nichols’ Death
Several cities and states are reconsidering the practice, which can be one of the most dangerous interactions with police.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Life Inside
February 10
I Write About Bad Prison Conditions. That Doesn’t Mean I Hate All Cops.
As a kid in Pakistan, police treated Tariq MaQbool like a nephew. As an adult in solitary confinement, the kindness of one New Jersey corrections officer made him feel human.
By
Tariq MaQbool
Inside Story
February 9
Prison Labor, Low Wages and the Side Hustle
Incarcerated workers turn to side hustles to survive. On the outside, comedian Luenell reflects on her time behind bars — and in show business.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Closing Argument
February 4
Biden Promised a Police Misconduct Database. He’s Yet to Deliver.
In the aftermath of Tyre Nichols’ killing, some are questioning the administration’s urgency on police reform.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Inside Story
February 2
When Kids Are Punished Like Adults
Louisianans protest temporary youth housing in notorious Angola, and Bryan Stevenson speaks on sentencing reform.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Cleveland
February 1
The High Cost of a Conversation From Cuyahoga County Jail
Phone calls from this Ohio county jail cost eight times as much as calls from any Ohio state prison.
By
Cid Standifer
Cleveland
January 31
‘You Ain’t No Big Man’: Videos Show Disparities in Cleveland Police Response to Kids in Crisis
Body cam footage reveals that officers don’t always follow department guidelines or training.
By
Cid Standifer
The Marshall Project Inside
January 30
The Marshall Project and VICE News to Launch Inside Story Show
Developed by formerly incarcerated people, the video series brings news, interviews and profiles into U.S. prisons and jails.
By
Lawrence Bartley
and
Donald Washington, Jr.
Closing Argument
January 28
Tyre Nichols’ Death: How Black Officers Alone Can’t Stop Brutal Policing
A dialogue with Wilbert L. Cooper, a reporter from a family of Black officers, on why Black officers are no cure for police violence.
By
Jamiles Lartey
and
Wilbert L. Cooper
The Marshall Project Inside
January 27
Giving Incarcerated People What They Want — Better News Access
The Marshall Project explains its decision to offer free news to incarcerated people on tablets that otherwise charge users.
By
Lawrence Bartley
Closing Argument
January 21
How Police Unions Try to Tilt the Scales on Oversight Boards
As more cities set up police watchdogs, some officers’ unions seek new ways to try to weaken them.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Feature
January 21
It’s Not Just a Police Problem, Americans Are Opting Out of Government Jobs
Data shows declines in public-sector employment, even as the private job market has rebounded.
By
Daphne Duret
and
Weihua Li
Life Inside
January 20
How an Illicit Cell Phone Helped Me Take College Courses from Prison
“I didn’t want to give any type of indication that I am in prison, because I didn’t want to be kicked out.”
By
Anonymous
as told to
Charlotte West
News
January 20
‘Pig Slop’ No More? Texas Prisons Detail Plan To Improve Food
The move follows our investigation revealing meals of raw potatoes, moldy bread.
By
Keri Blakinger
Feature
January 19
The Many Ingenious Ways People in Prison Use (Forbidden) Cell Phones
Despite the security concerns of administrators, incarcerated people use phones to hustle, make TikToks or publicize prison conditions.
By
Keri Blakinger
Closing Argument
January 14
Virginia School Shooting Tests How Young Is Too Young to be Prosecuted
Nearly half of U.S. states have no minimum age for prosecution, unlike most nations.
By
Jamiles Lartey
News and Awards
January 10
The Marshall Project: Diversity and Inclusion, 2022
A year of growth gives way to big opportunities.
error in byline
Cleveland
January 9
In an Effort to Diversify, Cleveland Police Look to HBCUs
Amid scrutiny over Cleveland police hiring practices, the department has been scouting Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help fix its image. Not everyone is on board.
By
Stan Donaldson Jr.
News
January 9
After Deadly Prison Fires, Will the Texas Legislature Fund Safety Fixes?
Our investigations spotlighted rampant violations, like thousands of broken fire alarms and smoke detectors.
By
Keri Blakinger
Closing Argument
January 7
How Two States Differ on the Injustice of Non-Unanimous Juries
Oregon and Louisiana eliminated the practice, which had white supremacist roots. But they differ on whether to retroactively overturn those convictions.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Testify
December 27, 2022
Cleveland Courts’ Revolving Door in One Chart
A portrait of Cuyahoga County’s repeat defendants.
By
Ilica Mahajan
and
David Eads
Analysis
December 22, 2022
Some of Our Best Work of 2022
From coverage of prison violence and abuses in a juvenile lockup to investigations by our new Cleveland team, our reporters told stories that made a difference.
By
Terri Troncale
Feature
December 21, 2022
Why Would Prisons Ban My Book? Absurdities Rule the System
Censorship kept me from finishing a college essay behind bars. Now, prisons might keep readers from my memoir.
By
Keri Blakinger
Closing Argument
December 17, 2022
Mental Health Care is Broken. Is Police Hospitalizing More People the Answer?
In New York City and other areas across the country some leaders are pushing to forcefully commit more people.
By
Christie Thompson
Life Inside
December 16, 2022
Despite Sensationalist Media Coverage, the Famous People at My Prison Aren’t in Any Special Danger
Celebrities get a lot of attention on both sides of the wall. But ultimately, we are all the same: warehoused property.
By
Anthony Accurso
as told to
Keri Blakinger
News
December 12, 2022
Federal Prisons Were Told to Provide Addiction Medications. Instead, They Punish People Who Use Them.
Congress directed the Bureau of Prisons to make Suboxone and other medications widely available, but only a small fraction of those who need the help have received it.
By
Beth Schwartzapfel
and
Keri Blakinger
Cleveland
December 12, 2022
How Children End Up in Cleveland’s Adult Courts: A Bindover Explainer
Cuyahoga County transfers more children — most of whom are Black — to adult court than any other Ohio county.
By
Abbey Marshall
,
Stephanie Casanova
,
Helen Maynard
,
Rachel Dissell
and
Cid Standifer
Closing Argument
December 10, 2022
What San Francisco’s Killer Robots Debate Tells Us About Policing
Among unanswered questions: How will the courts treat cases that involve police robots?
By
Daphne Duret
News Inside
December 6, 2022
Let Them Tell It
Issue 12 of News Inside brings you news and views straight from people living and working in the system.
By
Lawrence Bartley
Feature
December 6, 2022
How Texas Failed To Prevent One of the Nation’s Deadliest Prison Escapes
“Staff complacency” allowed a man to break out of a prison bus — and kill a family.
By
Keri Blakinger
and
John Tedesco
Closing Argument
December 3, 2022
Battles Brew Over the Power to Choose Who to Prosecute
The long-standing principle of prosecutorial discretion is under fire — another symptom of our nation’s fractured politics.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Life Inside
December 2, 2022
From Crip to Crochet Artist: How an Unlikely Hobby Changed My Life in Prison
I used to hide this cathartic craft because Crips don’t crochet. But making items that fellow prisoners can give to their loved ones has allowed me to create a peaceful new identity.
By
LaMarr W. Knox
Cleveland
December 1, 2022
Ohio Lawmaker Wants Law Requiring Police to Record Race During Traffic Stops
The Cleveland Democrat says “the only way we can make systemic change is with the data.”
By
Mark Puente
and
Stan Donaldson Jr.
News
November 28, 2022
A Rikers Officer Had Sex With a Detainee. It Took 7 Years to Fire Him.
The officer also asked the woman to cover up that another Rikers guard sexually assaulted her.
By
Reuven Blau
and
Keri Blakinger
Feature
November 22, 2022
As Police Arrest More Seniors, Those With Dementia Face Deadly Consequences
Many cities are changing how they respond to mental health calls, but less attention has been paid to the unique risks for people with Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
By
Christie Thompson
Cleveland
November 21, 2022
How a Wealthy Cleveland Suburb Profits From Ticketing Black Drivers
Black Clevelanders say Bratenahl police have targeted them for years.
By
Mark Puente
,
Stan Donaldson Jr.
and
Cid Standifer
Closing Argument
November 19, 2022
Policing the Police: A Week of Racism, Abuse and Misconduct
Federal civil rights investigations can examine an entire agency — but they are not the only way to check for police misconduct.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Life Inside
November 18, 2022
Between Addiction and Prison, I Left My Boy to Grow Up Without a Dad
With his release date quickly approaching, Ryan M. Moser reflects on the pain he caused his son — and his hopes for healing their relationship.
By
Ryan M. Moser
News
November 15, 2022
Mississippi Auditor: Prison Company Must Pay $2 Million for No-Show Workers
A 2020 investigation by The Marshall Project exposed how prison operator MTC billed the state millions for ghost workers.
By
Joseph Neff
and
Alysia Santo
Cleveland
November 15, 2022
In Greater Cleveland, Federal COVID Relief for Criminal Justice Goes Mostly to Pay Police
So far, a fraction of ARPA spending is on long-term violence prevention.
By
Rachel Dissell
,
Anastasia Valeeva
and
Weihua Li
Closing Argument
November 12, 2022
7 Key Criminal Justice Takeaways From the Midterms
Sheriffs. Prosecutors. Abortion and slavery amendments. Here’s what you should know about this week’s results.
error in byline
Feature
November 11, 2022
Prosecutors in These States Can Review Sentences They Deem Extreme. Few Do.
Five states now allow prosecutors to seek shorter sentences in old cases. Louisiana shows why many DAs haven’t.
By
Matt Nadel
and
Charlie Lee
Closing Argument
November 5, 2022
Ahead of Midterms, Most Americans Say Crime is Up. What Does the Data Say?
More people than ever believe crime is up in their area, polls show. But public perception doesn’t always match reality.
By
Jamiles Lartey
,
Weihua Li
and
Liset Cruz
News
November 4, 2022
Florida’s Voter Fraud Arrests Are Scaring Away Formerly Incarcerated Voters
DeSantis made a spectacle of arresting voters with felony convictions. Now, some eligible voters are opting out of midterms even beyond Florida.
By
Nicole Lewis
and
Alexandra Arriaga
News
November 4, 2022
Why So Many Jails Are in a ‘State of Complete Meltdown’
Overcrowding, violence and abuse proliferate at jails across the country, as staffing problems make long-simmering problems worse.
By
Keri Blakinger
Life Inside
November 4, 2022
When It Comes to Voting in Jail, the Devil Is in the Details
Most people in New York City jails are eligible to vote. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for them to register or cast their absentee ballots. That’s where volunteers come in.
By
Alexandra Arriaga
Death Sentences
October 31, 2022
Would a Death Sentence Help The Parkland Families Heal?
Outrage around the school shooter’s sentence reveals tensions between what some victims’ families want and the justice system’s limits.
By
Maurice Chammah
Closing Argument
October 29, 2022
Why Millions of Americans Will Be Left Out of the Midterms
Even in states where some people with felony convictions — and those awaiting trial in jail — have the right to vote, actually casting a ballot remains difficult.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Life Inside
October 28, 2022
I Spent Over 40 Years Working in Corrections. I Wasn’t Ready for Rikers.
Rikers Island jail complex “reflects our nation’s racist and destructive fixation on imprisonment,” writes former New York City jails commissioner Vincent Schiraldi. “It’s Exhibit A for why we need to end mass incarceration.”
By
Vincent Schiraldi
Testify
October 26, 2022
How We Analyzed Cases of People Cycling In and Out of Cleveland’s Courts
The Marshall Project examined tens of thousands of criminal cases in Cuyahoga County.
By
Ilica Mahajan
and
David Eads
Testify
October 26, 2022
Who’s Really Cycling In and Out of Cleveland’s Courts?
Often miscast as violent criminals, most repeat defendants commit nonviolent crimes borne out of untreated addiction and mental illness, a Marshall Project analysis shows.
By
Wesley Lowery
and
Ilica Mahajan
Testify
October 26, 2022
Five Things to Know About Cleveland Courts’ Revolving Door
In most cases, people who repeatedly appear before the courts are not committing violent crimes.
By
Wesley Lowery
and
Ilica Mahajan
Feature
October 25, 2022
Fetterman and Oz Battle Over Pennsylvania’s Felony Murder Law
Does opposing mandatory life without parole make a U.S. Senate candidate “pro-murderer”?
By
Abbie VanSickle
and
Cary Aspinwall
Closing Argument
October 22, 2022
Progressive Sheriffs Are Here. Will They Win In November?
A new wave of sheriffs want to make jails less punitive and reject harsh immigration policies.
By
Maurice Chammah
Feature
October 18, 2022
Does Your Sheriff Think He’s More Powerful Than the President?
Richard Mack has built a “Constitutional sheriff” movement to resist state and federal authority on guns, COVID-19 and now election results. A new survey shows just how many sheriffs agree with him.
By
Maurice Chammah
Feature
October 18, 2022
We Surveyed U.S. Sheriffs. See Their Views on Power, Race and Immigration
In an exclusive new survey, The Marshall Project found that sheriffs are key to our debates on policing, immigration and much more.
By
Maurice Chammah
Closing Argument
October 15, 2022
Don’t Expect Mass Prison Releases From Biden’s Marijuana Clemency
The president’s mass pardon may signal a shift in the federal approach to cannabis, but it won’t let anyone out of prison.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Analysis
October 13, 2022
How A Suburb Spent COVID Relief Funds on Sniper Rifles, Tactical Helmets and Police Bonuses
An inside look at how the Independence, Missouri, city council reallocated millions in federal ARPA dollars to police.
By
Anastasia Valeeva
and
Susie Cagle
Closing Argument
October 8, 2022
The Problem With The FBI’s Missing Crime Data
Many police departments have not adopted the feds’ new reporting system, muddling the picture about national crime trends.
By
Weihua Li
and
Jamiles Lartey
News
October 6, 2022
Alabama Said Prison Strike Was ‘Under Control.’ Footage Shows System in Deadly Disarray.
While prisoners protest unsafe conditions, “it just doesn’t let up,” say advocates.
By
Keri Blakinger
Closing Argument
October 1, 2022
What an Alabama Prisoners’ Strike Tells Us About Prison Labor
Exploitation of incarcerated people isn’t limited to lockups. Voters in some states have a chance to curtail it.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Life Inside
September 30, 2022
How I Survived a Year in ‘the Hole’ Without Losing My Mind
In prison, going to “the hole” can mean spending 23 hours a day alone in a tiny cell. Here, incarcerated author Michael J. Nichols shares his top 10 tips for enduring long stretches of “administrative segregation.”
By
Michael J. Nichols
Cleveland
September 28, 2022
Cleveland Has Spent Millions on Police Cameras. Why Are the Locations a Secret?
The city cites citizen safety as a reason for shielding information, but has no policies on use of surveillance technology.
By
Rachel Dissell
and
Mark Puente
Closing Argument
September 24, 2022
‘A Moral Disgrace’: How The U.S. Stopped Counting Deaths Behind Bars
The Department of Justice is failing miserably at collecting data on deaths. Experts say that makes it hard to identify the worst prisons and jails.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Cleveland
September 23, 2022
Cleveland Police Hiring Practices Are ‘Alarming’ and ‘Disturbing,’ Feds Say
City leaders want oversight to end, but federal monitor says police are not compliant in “significant and critical areas.”
By
Mark Puente
Life Inside
September 22, 2022
The Art of Bidding, or How I Survived Federal Prison
When Eric Borsuk went to prison with his two best friends, they found their ‘bid’ — their purpose — together. Then one day, everything changed.
By
Eric Borsuk
Cleveland
September 21, 2022
Local Mission Includes Connecting with Incarcerated Community to Raise ‘Awareness’
Louis Fields, outreach manager for The Marshall Project-Cleveland, is leading efforts to connect with incarcerated community, including recently released and active family members.
By
Rachel Dissell
Feature
September 13, 2022
Oklahoma Is Prosecuting Pregnant Women for Using Medical Marijuana
Two district attorneys have targeted mothers with child neglect felonies.
By
Brianna Bailey
Cleveland
September 12, 2022
Federal Oversight of Police Has Cost Cleveland Millions. What’s Changed?
Consent decrees force cities to change abusive police tactics. But Cleveland still has work to do.
By
Mark Puente
and
Cid Standifer
Closing Argument
September 10, 2022
Why Record Heat Can Be Deadlier in Prisons
Corrections officials across most of the nation have not prepared for warmer summers and record heat waves.
By
Jamiles Lartey
Analysis
September 7, 2022
Rifles, Tasers and Jails: How Cities and States Spent Billions of COVID-19 Relief
President Biden’s signature American Rescue Plan Act gave local governments $350 billion to recover from COVID-19. They spent much of it on police, prisons and the courts.
By
Anastasia Valeeva
,
Weihua Li
and
Susie Cagle
Closing Argument
September 3, 2022
Thousands of Migrants Are Now Pawns in Immigration Politics
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s policy of busing migrants to other states has ignited heated political debate. People are caught in the middle.
By
Jamiles Lartey